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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD-82-89DN: POPULA -1.,�Y0 m.II UCI Mr�Ib._ TOWN OF NEWCASTLE REPORT File# Res. C!' P' 4 122- By -Law # MEETING: General Purpose and Administration Committee DATE: MONDAY, MARCH 201, 1989 REPORT #: PD -82 -89 FILE #: SUB,JECT: POPULATION PROJECTIONS FOR PROVINCE OF ONTARIO FILE: PLN 9.1 RECOMMENDATIONS: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report PD -82 -89 be received; and 2. THAT the Region of Durham be advised that the Town of Newcastle considers that the rate of growth in Durham will be greater than that forecasted in the "Experimental Subprovincial Population Projects 1986 - 2011". 1. BACKGROUND: 1.1 The Ministry of Treasury and Economics has completed two documents relating to population projections for Ontario. The first document is a Demographic Bulletin which presents population projections for the province as a whole to 2011, based on the 1986 census count. 1.2 The second document is entitled "Experimental Subprovincial Population Projections for Ontario 1986 - 20111 ". This is a consultation paper which summarizes the Ministry's preliminary population projections for all regions, counties and districts. 552 •••2 REPORT NO.: PD -82 -89 PAGE 2 ----------------------- -------------------------------------------------- - - - - -- 1.3 The Region has circulated these documents at the request of the Ministry. The Province is requesting comments on the Experimental Subprovincial Projection from all area municipalities, the health council and school boards within the Region of Durham. The Regional Planning Department is consolidating all comments to forward on to the Ministry of Treasury and Economics. 2. THE DEMOGRAPHIC BULLETIN 2.1 The Demographic Bulletin provides revised population projections to the year 2111. The forecast is updated on the basis of new information available from the 1896 Census and a revised view about the strength of net migration. Five different scenarios are provided on the basis of "high ", "medium" and "low" assuumptions about future trends in fertility, morality and net migration. 2.2 The Reference Scenario combines the three medium or "most likely" assumptions for fertility, mortality and net migration. The highlights of the reference scenario are as follows: - The Population of Ontario is projected to grow from 9.1 million in 1986 to almost 11.9 million by 2111, an increase of 30%. - The annual growth rate population will fall from 1.7 percent annually to less than 1.0 percent after 1996. - The number of births will rise and fall as the baby boom generation passes through prime childbearing years. By 2111, the children of the baby - boomers will reach the prime ages of family formation. - life expectancy will increase by approximately 5 years by 2011. ...3 5D` 3 REPORT NO.: PD® -82 ®89 PAGE 3 ® Net migration will account for 56 per cent of the total population increase between 1986 ®1991. Net migration over the subsequent five years will account for 47 per cent of the total population increase. Growth in the population aged 45 ®64 will be dramatic as the baby boom generation starts turning 45 in 1991. This group will account for 28 per cent of the total population in 2011. ® In 2011, nearly one in every 6 Ontarians will be over 65. The over 75 population will more than double from 391,01001 in 1986 to 874,000 in 2011. 2.3 The most volatile component of the population projections is net migration. It should be noted that this is comprised of both interprovincial and international migration. It is stongly influenced not only by immigration policy but by the relative strength of the economies in various parts of Canada. The strong Ontario economy has attracted many people from across Canada in recent years. 3. EXPERIMENTAL SUBPROVINCIAL POPULATION PROJECTIONS 3.1 The Experimental Subprovincial Population Projection is prepared for consultation purposes. These preliminary figures are provided for all regions, counties and districts with a view to finalizing the figures as the "official" population projections of the Province. The Subprovincial Population Projections are based on the Provincial Forecast disaggregated into regional or county projections on the basis of local fertility and mortality assumptions and determining shares of net migration. In essence, it is a top -down approach wherein the total population growth for the Province is determined and then distributed throughout the Province. ...4 REPORT NO.: PD -82 -89 PAGE 4 3.2 The Subprovincial Population Projections are not built -up from local Official Plans or local projections and it does not make any assumptions about infrastructure placement or provincial policies relating to development. Indeed, the purpose of the scenarios about population growth is to provide input as to infrastructure requirements. It is for this reason that these figures are important to municipalities. 3.3 The Subprovincial projections are experimental and in particular, require further refinement within the Greater Toronto Area. It should be noted that the Provincial projections indicate a much higher rate of population growth for Metropolitan Toronto than previously considered. This seems to indicate a bias on the part of the Province for the intensification of Metro Toronto as opposed to the development of the fringe areas like Durham Region. 3.4 The Region's most recent forecast contained in the 1989 Residential Servicing and Financing Study projects a much higher rate of growth in the short term than that proposed in the "Experimental Subprovincial Projection ". By 1991, the Region estimates a population of 409,560, almost 30,000 greater than the Ontario projection. The Regional figure is based on development activity and the recent population growth in the Region whereas Ontario projection is based on pre -1986 trends. The more recent growth patterns in the Greater Toronto Area would support a higher rate of growth for Durham than anticipated in Ontario Sub- provincial projection. Moreover, it does not seem to account for the more severe servicing constraints in some areas such as York Region. 3.5 Regional staff have not completed the long term forecast for Durham Region. Based on the revised overall Ontario projection, it is anticipated that there would be a higher long term population for the year 2011 than the Experimental Subprovincial population of 579,350. ...5 555 REPORT NO.: PD -82 -89 --------- m - - - - -- ------------------- ®------- --- -- 4 CONCLUSIONS: PAGE 5 4.1 On the basis of our experience in the Town of Newcastle and discussions with Regional Staff, it is our opinion that a more optimistic forecast for population growth should be allocated to Durham Region. There will be a continuing preference for the development of the Toronto fringe as opposed to massive intensification of Metro Toronto. To meet this demand, the proper infrastructure resources need to be allocated. Respectfully submitted, f Franklin Wu, M.C.I.P. Director of Planning & Development DC *FW *cc *Attach. March 101, 1987 W Recommended for presentation to the Committee Lawrence . otseff Chief Adm n's rative Officer